In war's opening days, Iran's attacks on Bahrain caught Navy families and sailors by surprise

Key Points:

• On the first day of the war, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting the U.S. Navy's Middle East headquarters in Bahrain, catching the U.S. government off guard as military families had not yet been fully evacuated.
• The attacks caused significant damage to the Naval Support Activity Bahrain base, disrupting logistics and forcing the Navy to reroute supply chains, leading to extended resupply times for ships in the region.
• Approximately 1,450 service members and families have been evacuated from Bahrain, many facing financial hardship due to maintaining two households and delays in reimbursement from the Pentagon.
• The Navy has no immediate plans to return to the same level of presence at the Bahrain base, and efforts are ongoing to assist evacuees with relocation and personal belongings.
• Support organizations like Blue Star Families have provided aid to displaced military families, who continue to cope with uncertainty and disruption caused by the prolonged conflict and evacuation process.